It’s less than hours away from the New Year! Let’s see if I can summarize some of the great things I’ve seen this year.

 B’Hai Temple, New Delhi, India

Interior of Hallsgrimskirkja, Reykjavik, India

Perito Moreno Glacier, Patagonia (El Calafate), Argentina

Tiger in Ranthambore National Park

Geysir, Iceland

Statue of Manuel Belgrano, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Gulfoss, Iceland

Eva Peron’s Tomb, Recoleta Cemetery, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Hi, all!

It’s the eve of a New Year. Can you believe it? 2012 has been a good year for me even if I am always beating myself  up. I need to be happier with who and where I am in 2013. What about you?

I can’t imagine going to three more radically different places than I traveled to this year (Argentina, India & Iceland), and the good eating wasn’t just international either. I had some great food right here in New York City. As is my usual end of the year tradition, I want to highlight my Top Ten Food pics for 2012. Here are some of my favorite eats/feeble attempts at decent food photography for 2012 (links to past posts included, in case you missed them):

1. These are the best pancakes EVER!! I’m going back to the Pancake Month at Clinton Street Baking Company in February.

 Banana Pancakes with Bavarian Cream, Toasted Coconut & Warm Maple Butter 

2. I ate a lot of great food courtesy of some wonderful special invites from my friend M. I now have a newfound respect for Austrian food thanks to the chefs from Edi & the Wolf and Seasonal.

 Smoked Wild Salmon with Mustard Creme Fraiche, Leek Water & Crispy Brown Bread

3. By far, the best meatball parmigian sandwich, I have EVER tasted in my life. I went back with Husband J, and he says it’s in his top two as well. I’ve also tried the chicken parm, and it’s equally good. I’m going back to try the eggplant, too.

Meatball Parm Sandwich at Parm

4. Discovering Argentinian pizza was a pleasant surprise.

Tomato, Olive, Ham Pizza at Guerrin in Buenos Aires, Argentina

5. I miss India’s spicy breakfasts. Nothing like a little cumin in the morning.

Breakfast Tiffin at Saravana Bhavan, New Delhi, India

6. I know it’s just a hot dog, but it’s a darn good one. The Icelandic people are very lucky.

The Everything Hot Dog from Baejarins Beztu Pylsur in Reykjavik, Iceland

7.  Celebrating a family milestone with an excellent meal!

Pan-Seared Foie Gras with Pinot Noir Cake, Foie Gras Ice Cream and Green Grapes at Castle Hill Inn, Newport, RI

8. High tea: I need to do that more often.

Raspberry Tart at High Tea from the Alvear Palace Hotel, Buenos Aires

9. Anything sweet with glitter deserves a mention.

Kaju Katli in Jaipur, India

10. I still haven’t written about the steaks in Argentina.

Ribeye from Don Julio, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Any favorites from these set of pictures? What are you hoping to eat or cook more of in 2013?

Travel photos are coming later!

I hope you enjoyed the Best of 2011 food post.

I have to say that even though it was a hard to wittle down a year’s worth of eating, it was just as hard (if not harder) finding ten travel photos that encapsulated this year for me. My travel year consisted of revisiting Los Angeles after not setting foot on the West Coast of the U.S.A. for almost nine years; my first time taking a plane within my own state to Buffalo, NY; seeing my family in Antigua; and of course discovering the wonders of Turkey. For all of that, I really do need about 15-20 pics. My travels may not be as extensive as some travel blogs out there, but I wouldn’t trade this year for anything.

The Griffith Park Observatory in Los Angeles, California at sunset. Check out my trip to Los Angeles by clicking the California label on the left.

The view of English Harbour from Shirley Heights, Antigua

The ceiling of the Aya Sophia – Istanbul, Turkey

Niagara Falls (New York side)

Betty’s Hope, Antigua

The Celsus Library – Ephesus, Turkey

Prepping to fly with the Royal Balloon company – Cappadocia, Turkey

Blue Mosque – Istanbul, Turkey

Above the rock formations in Cappadocia, Turkey

Up and Away – Cappadocia, Turkey

Do you have any favorites of these the pictures? I’d love to know which one and why.

Hello, all!

Buffalo wings in Buffalo!

Taylor Bay Scallop Ceviche (River Cafe – Brooklyn, NY)

On the half shell with sea beans, tomato and coriander

When I thought about doing a Top Ten/Best Of series for this year, I thought that it would be totally easy. Yet when it came to food shots, I didn’t realize how hard it would be. How I can distill a half year’s worth of food blogging into ten pictures. Should I go with pretty food pics or my favorite experiences? Decisions, decisions, decisions….I just decided to throw in a little bit of everything: some of my favorite dishes this year, some new food experiences that I had and stuff that was just plain pretty (if I do say so myself). Again, all of this is in no particular order. Good food is just good food. Isn’t that right?

Burger from Good Stuff Eatery in Washington, DC

A lobster roll from the Red Hook Lobster Pound pop-up restaurant at Fulton Ferry Landing, Brooklyn, New York

I hope Red Hook Lobster Pound does this again next year. This time, I think I’ll need more than one trip over there.